FedEx lets rescued dogs hitch a ride to new Florida home

Brenda Wright with the American Humane Association cuddles one of the rescued dogs on the tarmac outside the FedEx Hub before being flown to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for adoption. The American Humane Association worked with FedEx to relocate the dogs.

With button-bright eyes and wagging tails, 47 of the dogs found last month crammed in a U-Haul by a California rescue group were at the FedEx complex on Wednesday, waiting to be transported to Florida, and eventually their permanent homes.

The dogs were discovered on Jan. 17 law enforcement in Fayette County, in the back of a U-Haul, having lived in filth for days on the road from California to Virginia.

Now, they're among the last to be parceled out to animal agencies with adopters lining up to take them.

FedEx does not transport pets, but made a one-time exception for these dogs, said spokeswoman Shea Leordeanu.

The free plane ride spared them 15 hours in a truck.

"We have a policy that we don't ship pets. But we also have hearts and we were following this story as well," Leordeanu said. "And so when the rescue groups reached out to us to ship them to Fort Lauderdale, we agreed because this was such an extenuating circumstance and it was in our backyard."

The dogs will be flown to Fort Lauderdale and then taken to the Tri County Humane Society Boca Raton.

A total of 141 dogs and one cat were being moved to Virginia by Bonnie Sheehan, 55, the founder of Hearts for Hounds in Long Beach, Calif., and her passenger, Pamela King-McCracken, 59. The women used the U-Haul and a minivan. One dog died.

Sheehan and King-McCracken have been charged with aggravated animal cruelty. They turned over custody of the dogs to Fayette County Animal Control.

The animals have been cared for by staff and volunteers with the American Humane Association, who came here from Colorado.

"We have a wonderful group of people stepping up and Memphis is amazing. We've had amazing support here in Memphis," said aide Tracy Reis, AHA program manager for emergency services.

While the lone cat, now named Token, has found a local home, the remaining dogs have been placed with the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County as well as groups in Collierville, Nashville, Knoxville and Birmingham.

"The dogs are all going to people we have personal relationships with," Reis said.

Most of the dogs are about 30 pounds or less, and with the exception of a few pure-breds, are mostly Chihuahua, terrier and poodle mixes.

"Now, they're in great shape," Reis said. "I believe they are all adoptable."

Also helping to move the dogs were animal control officers Simone Robinson and Donna Soriano with the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority in Los Angeles County, Calif. They volunteered to make the drive after a request for help from the AHA.

Because the criminal case is still pending, officials wouldn't discuss in detail the condition of the animals after they were taken.

"They had some issues with parasites. But they're all doing really well now and they're on their way to their forever homes," said Dr. Jennifer Dunlap, a Somerville veterinarian. "We wormed everybody, we've gotten everybody vaccinated and they're as healthy as they can be moving into their new home."